Log-turner



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. P. SHERMAN.

LOG TURNER.

No. 386,853. .Patejfited July 31, 1888.

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(No Model.) I 28heets-Sheet 2.

W. P. SHERMAN.

LOG TURNER.

No. 386,853. Patented July 31, 1888.

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UNITED STATES LATENT FFICE.

XVILLIAM P. SHERMAN, OF WILSONS MILLS, OHIO.

LOG-TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,853, dated July 31, 1888.

(No model.)

log over on its side during the process of sawing the log up into, boards; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a means of turning the log by power derived from the engine, and, second, to provide a means ofturn- 1 ing the logeasilyand prevent the log from falling with force, and thereby relieving the can riage of the concussion andjarring incident to the labor of turning heavy logs. I attain these objects by the mechanisms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel isafronteleva-tion showing theturning device as it appears in front of alog,ready for operation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the turning device and the device for easing down the log.

A represents a log, and B a part of the carriage upon which a log is carriedin connection with a saw-mill. C U are supports forming part of a frame,which I secure to any suitable part of the floor or frame-work of the mill in front of the carriage.

D is a crankshaft having its hearings in the said supports 0 G. The cranks maybe two or 5 more in number.

E is a frame, consisting of two upright bars journaled onto the crank-shaft outside of the supports C O, and having round crossbar F. To each of the cranks are attached levers G G 0 by means of sleeves g g, which have transverse sleeves gg, to the ends of which the lower ends of the said levers G G are journaled, said levers having their lower ends made in the form of a yoke. The object of thus attaching these 5 levers is to allow of some lateral m0tion,if need be, while turning the log. Upon the levers G G are placed peculiar pointed dogs H H, having slots h h, through which pins pass in securing them to the sides of the levers. This is for giving them freedom for self-adjustment in catching into the log. Plus it are fixed in the sides of the levers to prevent the dogs swinging backward.

Upon the cross-bar F are placed sleeves ff, having transverse slcevesff, which are adjustably held at the middle part of the bar by means of springs J J, placed upon the bar at each side ofthe said sleeves. Through thesaid sleeves f f are placed connecting-rods I I, pivotally attached to the levers G G. The connecting-rods have shoulders 17 t, and between the said shoulders and the sleeves are placed springs s 8.

Upon the shaft D is placed a gear-wheel, K, to which power may be applied for operating the said crankshaft.

At the opposite side of the frame E is attached a shaft, M, by being inserted in a collar, m, on the said frame, and having its other end supported in a suitable bearing, N, and said lever is provided with a hand-lever, L, for turn ing the shaft, and through it for tilting the frame E and levers G G over, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 2, when not required for use. On the said shaft M is a collar, t, and between it and the collar or is placed a spiral spring, 0, one end ofwhich is secured to the collar land the other to the collar or. The tension of this spring serves to allow the frame E to have some play back and forth when the log is being turned. To the lever L is attached a latch mechanism, 1 working in conjunction with a rack, Q, for holding the lever in the upright position. This constitutes the first part of my invention.

Thesecond partof my invention is described as follows: To that part of the carriage called the knees, against which the log rests, is attached the mechanism for easing down the log when turned.

R is a cylinder, closed at the bottom and provided with a lug, 1-, having an eye by which it is journaled to the frame-work of the carriage, by means of which it may be tilted over toward the log. In the said cylinder is a piston, U, having a tubular and slotted pistonrod, V, playing through a cap or cross-piece in the top end of the cylinder.

WV is a cord or chain attached to the center of the piston, reaching out and running overa ICO pulley, X, fixed at the top end of the cylinder, and provided with a hook, Y. In the cylinder,near the bottom,is provided a stop-cock,Z.

The operations of these improvements are as follows: As before stated, when the turning device is not required for use for turning a log, it is turned down to be out of the way for rolling and loading a log onto the carriage. When wanted, however, it is turned to the upright position, bringing the barsG G to bear against the front side of the log, as shown. To turn the log, power is applied to the gear K, the crank-shaft is rotated, and the levers G G are given a reciprocating motion, and the dogs H Hcatch into the login the upward movements of said levers G G, and lift the front side of the log, and thus roll it over on the carriage. hen the log has been partly sawed from, as seen in Fig. 3, thecylinderR is tilted over and the hook Y is caught into the log. Now, as the log is turned it draws on the cord and the piston is drawn upward, a vacuum is created below the piston, and this holds the log from falling, which is, however, let down easily by opening the cock Z and admitting air gradually into the cylinder. By this means the turning of a log is greatly facilitated and easily and safely performed.

Having described my invention, what I saas claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The combination of a crankshaft, as D,

journaled to suitable supporting-frame, G O, levers G G, connected to and operated bysaid crank-shaft, and provided with self-adjusting dogs H H, the tilting frame E, journaled onto said crankshaft, and having on its crossbar F the sleevesff, carrying the connecting-rods I I, connecting the levers G G with the tilting frame E, and provided with the springs ss, and the extension-shaft M, having collart and spring 0, journaled in bearingN,and provided with the hand-lever L, having latch [DQ011211]- ism 1?, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 2. The combination, with the carriage ofa saw-mill, of the cylinder R, having cock Z,and journaled to the carriage'frame, and having piston U, provided with tubular rod V, playing through top of cylinder, and having the cord or chain W, playing over a pulley, X, and having the hook Y, for catching into the log, all arranged for lowering the log without concussion, substantially as described.

WVILLIAM P. SHERMAN. Witnesses:

GEO. W. TIBBITTF,

F. W. CADWELL. 

